More than 70 homes will be available for let in Kettering next year after an £8.3m scheme on the site of two demolished schools got under way.

Laburnum Crescent will boast 72 homes thanks to a partnership between house builder Westleigh, Waterloo Housing Group and Kettering Council.

The homes are being built on the site of Avondale Infants School and Avondale Junior School, which were demolished to make way for the scheme.

The project comprises of one bedroom flats, one and three bedroom bungalows and two, three and four bedroom houses.

Once construction is completed - which is expected to be October 2017 - the majority of the properties will be owned by Waterloo Housing Group and will be let for affordable rent and the remaining properties will be owned by Kettering Council.

John Conway, head of housing at Kettering Council, said: “At a time when homelessness is increasing fast, we are delighted to be working with Waterloo Housing and Westleigh to build genuinely affordable homes within our borough.

“This scheme, which will provide the first new build council homes in a generation, will help us specifically to meet the needs of older people and households with disabilities.”

Shared ownership is being offered by Waterloo on 16 of the properties, which allows buyers buy a share of each home and pay rent on the remaining share.

It’s designed to help house buyers who would not be able to buy a property outright and need a little help to get on the route to home ownership.

Anthony Riley, group director of development and operations at Waterloo, said: “We’re delighted to be helping to provide affordable homes for local people in Kettering through our successful partnership with the borough council and Westleigh.”

Funding for the development was provided by Waterloo Housing Group, Kettering Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Gary Turner, head of investment and partnership at Westleigh, said: “We are proud to be working with Waterloo Housing Group and Kettering Council to bring these new homes to fruition.

“The development will help meet the continued rise in demand for affordable housing in Northamptonshire.”